Lexus and, to a greater extent, Toyota have been pretty much absent from the EV market to this point. BMW has its “i” green division, specifically its iX, while Mercedes was throwing the EQ alphabet at the market. Lexus, meanwhile, was more than content with continued refinement on its hybrid drivetrains. Fair enough. Its hybrid systems are among the best in the business, and despite Toyota South Africa’s initial caution regarding full-fat EVs, it decided to bring the Lexus RZ anyway.
What are we looking at?
Three derivatives of the Lexus RZ have landed in local dealerships. The RZ 500e EX starts at R1,640,000, the RZ 500e SE will set you back R1,823,800, while the 550e F Sport costs R1,938,600. All models are built on Toyota’s E-TNGA platform, the same architecture that underpins the soon-to-arrive Toyota bZ4X.
The Lexus RZ runs dual electric motors, one per axle, with all-wheel drive as a standard feature. Since it’s easier to govern and restrict kilowatt output on EVs, Lexus has used this strategy to value-tier its models by power output. The SE and EX derivatives both produce 280kW, while the F Sport is good for 300kW. Torque across the existing range is 268.6Nm per motor. A third, more performance-oriented variant, the RZ 600e, has been confirmed but is not yet available at local dealerships. According to Lexus, the 600e will produce 313kW and the range-standard 537Nm of total system torque.
As for battery capacity, the EX and SE models are powered by a 74.6kWh battery, while the 550 and upcoming 600e models house a 76.9kWh battery.
Luxury first, then electric
If you’ve spent any measure of time in the current Lexus RX, the RZ will immediately feel familiar. Front and centre on the dashboard is a 14-inch touchscreen infotainment system with the same easy-to-use climate controls as the RX. Same digital instrument cluster, and a familiar centre console-mounted control panel. A 13-speaker Mark Levinson sound system is standard on SE and F Sport models, as is intelligent park assist, adaptive cruise control, lane trace assist and a heads-up display.
In part thanks to the electric drive and in part thanks to incredible sound insulation, the RZ’s cabin is hushed. The tactile quality of the cabin materials is impeccable, and the overall luxury experience is nothing short of what you’d expect from Lexus.
But can a driving yoke actually work?
Let’s talk about the headline feature here, other than the RZ being Lexus’ first all-electric model that is. The F Sport has Lexus’ steer-by-wire system that’s paired with a quick-ratio yoke-style steering wheel. In terms of look, it’s similar to a Formula One-type wheel, while the operation is almost similar to a conventional aircraft yoke, naturally, without the push-and-pull attitude adjustment. The quick ratio means you never need a full lock, and even in a tight parking area, full wheel rotation is only about 180 degrees.
It’s a phenomenal system to operate, but there are some caveats. For one, any sudden input has an exaggerated effect on weight transfer and car movement. This means that any mid-corner corrections or straight-line inputs have a significant effect on how the car changes direction. It takes some recalibration of muscle memory, especially with the wheel-mounted indicator stalk, but once familiar, it’s an intuitive and slightly addictive apparatus to operate.
How does the RZ drive?
Pretty much like you’d expect from an EV, but with an in-built familiarity if you’re familiar with other Lexus models. Lexus says its RZ has been designed and built from the ground up to best accommodate the electric drive system. And yet by not trying to re-revolutionise what it deems to be the best possible EV, it’s no more difficult or jarring to drive than any other ICE model – except perhaps for the futuristic steer-by-wire system.
We tested both the 500e and 550e F-Sport models in and around Cape Town’s passes and heavy traffic, and in a word, it’s calm. The cabin is well insulated, and the car has good bump absorption. As for the regen braking, it’s well calibrated and adjustable from the steering wheel. With just a bit of forward thinking and anticipation of slowdowns at traffic lights, you can recuperate enough energy that a long commute barely makes a dent in the battery’s charge. On the mountain passes, the chassis inevitably communicates its true character. Yes, it’s a heavy car at more than 2.1 tonnes, but then again, all EVs are. Still, it does a decent job of concealing that heft.
Its weight, though, is further masked during hard acceleration with the F-Sport’s 0-100km/h time of 4.4 seconds, which is exceptionally punchy, while the ES completes the same benchmark sprint in a similarly brief 4.6 seconds.
A niche within a niche
EV sales remain a marginal share of South Africa’s market. Charging infrastructure is improving glacially, yes, but as a country, we’re not exactly geared for mass EV adoption just yet. Within that already narrow pool of EV buyers, Lexus itself is considered a bit of a niche purchase. Add luxury purchases to that, and the buyer pool narrows even more. Naturally, Lexus isn’t ignorant of this detail, so it has decided to allocate roughly 50 units to the South African market.
Range anxiety remains a major consideration, too. The larger 76.9kWh battery in the F Sport is perfect for daily use and longer commutes, for which you’ll want a home charger. Longer holiday drives, though, may be a big ask given the charging infrastructure that, in 2026, is still scattered at best outside major cities.
Should you buy one?
For a brand that took its time entering the BEV space and instead focused on hybrid drivetrains, Lexus has delivered a stellar first effort with its RZ. The refinement is there, the build quality is excellent, and the driving experience, yoke aside, is exactly what you’d expect from Lexus. The F Sport steer-by-wire system is naturally the headline act here, and while it’s not for everyone, it’s telling of a brand that’s now left its comfort zone behind.
The competitive picture here is also worth a mention. Mercedes-Benz’s EQE350, also the most affordable in the EQE range, costs R2,185,000. BMW’s all-electric luxury SUV entrant, the iX xDrive45 M Sport, costs R2,249,000. Consider then that the RZ starts at R1,823,800, with the current most expensive model, the 550e F Sport, going for R1,938,600, and I’d call the RZ a relative bargain in the luxury EV SUV space. It’s limited in numbers, sure, but well priced even against its more conventional RX sibling.
